Bitter|Sweet: Coffee, Tea & Chocolate

November 20th – March 5th

Tuesday-Thursday 9am-4pm; Friday 9am-10pm; Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm

From social revolutions that changed the way we drink our morning blends, to design revolutions that changed the objects that we drink from, step back in time to when gathering over a cup of your favorite hot beverage caused a stir that upended the world..

Coffee, tea and chocolate were strongly associated with 18th-century Europe as the fashionable beverages of the day, yet none of the plants required for their preparation were native to the continent. Coffee arrived from Africa and the Middle East, tea from Asia, and chocolate from the Americas. Bitter|Sweet: Coffee, Tea & Chocolate retraces the story of how these “new hot drinks” appeared on European tables beginning the in late 16th century, causing a near revolution in drinking habits, social customs and tastes, as well as an insatiable demand for specialized vessels, such as coffeepots, tea canisters and chocolate pots. The works of art assembled draw heavily from the DIA’s world-class encyclopedic collection and range from rare examples of porcelain and metalwork to paintings, prints and sculptures. In a departure from traditional art exhibitions, their presentation will be complemented by multi-sensory interpretive elements that engage all five senses—the museum’s first-ever exhibit to do so. As visitors to the show will learn, such beverages not only stimulated the body and mind, but also the desire for colonial expansion.

Add to Calendar
11 20 201703 05 2017America/DetroitBitter|Sweet: Coffee, Tea & ChocolateFrom social revolutions that changed the way we drink our morning blends, to design revolutions that changed the objects that we drink from, step back in time to when gathering over a cup of your favorite hot beverage caused a stir that upended the world..

Coffee, tea and chocolate were strongly associated with 18th-century Europe as the fashionable beverages of the day, yet none of the plants required for their preparation were native to the continent. Coffee arrived from Africa and the Middle East, tea from Asia, and chocolate from the Americas. Bitter|Sweet: Coffee, Tea & Chocolate retraces the story of how these “new hot drinks” appeared on European tables beginning the in late 16th century, causing a near revolution in drinking habits, social customs and tastes, as well as an insatiable demand for specialized vessels, such as coffeepots, tea canisters and chocolate pots. The works of art assembled draw heavily from the DIA’s world-class encyclopedic collection and range from rare examples of porcelain and metalwork to paintings, prints and sculptures. In a departure from traditional art exhibitions, their presentation will be complemented by multi-sensory interpretive elements that engage all five senses—the museum’s first-ever exhibit to do so. As visitors to the show will learn, such beverages not only stimulated the body and mind, but also the desire for colonial expansion. 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Michigan 48202aBiAKdWFvzLJBiabzmaP28799MM/DD/YYYY